Carpenter Bees

Carpenter Bees

It’s spring time so there is a good chance that you are seeing those large black bees and those large holes and tunnels in your wood. Those are carpenter bees that have been living in those holes and tunnels throughout the winter and are emerging in the spring time to find places for new nests…which mean new holes and tunnels in your wood. Carpenter bees are often confused with bumble bees but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black; while bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings.

Carpenter bees drill through wood to build nests where they stay all winter and throughout the spring until they find a new nest or emerge to mate. Although male bees tend to be aggressive, often hovering around people who are near their nests, they are mostly harmless since they do not have stingers. On the other hand, females can inflict a painful sting but rarely do unless they are being handled or bothered.

You may find piles of wood underneath the hole where the bee has drilled their nest. Carpenter bees prefer to make their nests in bare, untreated or weathered wood. Wood that is painted or pressure-treated is much less susceptible to a carpenter bees nesting. Common areas for nesting include window trim, facia board, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.

The best control for carpenter bees is to treat or paint all exposed wood surfaces. If you are using a spray, it is best to spray at night, while wearing protective clothing, when bees are less active to reduce your risk of being stung. Each hole should be treated individually if the bees are inside the holes. If they are not in the hole, seal, paint , etc. the hole so the bees cannot return.

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Northwest, an Atlanta-based pest control company, has been servicing the Southeast - Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina - for over 65 years. With 23 locations, we specialize in eco-friendly pest control and termite control solutions, lawn care, energy-saving insulation services, wildlife services for animal control & removal, mosquito control, and heating & cooling services.